Biologist Brian Gratwicke leads the amphibian conservation programs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI). Gratwicke’s focus has been on building capacity to conserve amphibians in Appalachia and Panama, developing outreach and educational programs and exhibits to build public support for amphibian conservation, and research to develop tools that will allow scientists to reintroduce amphibians back into the wild. At SCBI, Gratwicke’s focus is working with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and zoo partners to build an ex situ amphibian facility in Panama. That facility maintains and grows captive assurance populations of some of the species most heavily affected by the impacts of the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus. Gratwicke's research focuses on developing applied solutions for the chytrid fungus threat, including research into the area of beneficial skin bacteria and identifying genetic traits associated with resistance to the disease.

Our midday science seminars are free and open to the public. Because they are geared towards a scientific audience, they are more technical than our evening lectures. Learn more about our evening lecture series here.